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In July I'm going to go to Florida with my boyfriend and his parents for about two weeks, and we'll have a pretty busy schedule. I am currently on birth control and calculated that I'm going to start my period in the very beginning of the trip, and I have awful cramps that would limit me to doing anything for a few days. My friend who is a training to be a nurse has told me that if I decide to take the pill to avoid my period, I should be fine. I tried to find out more information online, but couldn't. So, sexxit, does anyone here know exactly what would happen if I would take active birth control pills while I'm supposed to be on my period? Will I have any spotting or possibly cramps still? What will happen to the blood? Thanks!

This works best if you are on monophasic rather than biphasic or triphasic pills. Monophasic means all the active pills have the same amount of hormones in them. Some brands have different amounts of hormone each week. If all of your active pills are the same, you are less likely to spot or get cramps. You are also less likely to spot if you start doing this a couple months before the trip. You can actually take monophasic pills continuously for 3 months at a time, so you only get a period four times per year. I've been doing this for seven years. Works great!

Also, the blood issue. Pills contain estrogen and progesterone. Your uterus has a lining on it that comes off and this is the blood you see when you get your period. Progesterone makes sure this lining doesn't come off. So if you keep taking the pills, the lining will just stay in place. This is why if you forget to take a pill or two, you might see some light spotting. Just a bit of the lining being shed.

I do that every few months if there is something going on during the week I'm supposed to get it, just skip all the placebos and continue with the next pack, it has never caused any complications with me, and my doctor approves of it :)

You can definitely go from one pack to another with no period, a lot of people do it if they have anemia or other medical issues. I wouldn't recommend skipping it every month, but two months (6 weeks) of 'active' pills is very safe. You will probably get some spotting around week 6 (I have before) and it can be inconvenient, but it's not terrible.

I would suggest kind of 'setting' your period to be a different week than the one you're trying to avoid by skipping a bleeding week this month or next, and then you'll have everything shifted by a week. Then you won't have to worry about any spotting that week of vacation!

Just skip the week of inactive pills and keep taking the active ones. There's a chance of some spotting and cramping, but it should definitely be less than your usual period. July's a way off... why not skip the placebo pills and go right to the active ones on the upcoming cycle and see what happens?

We are happy to address medical issues, but we are no substitute for real medical advice. Go to the doctor.

Aren't you a moderator on this sub? This girl didn't even mention what pill she is on... You can't just give advice like that without at least encouraging this girl to ask her prescribing doctor or pharmacist to check if this advice is appropriate. You just told her to go for it and "see what happens?" There is not just one "The Pill"

No, there isn't just one pill, but it is known that all the different types of pills can be used as a non-stop form of bc in order to miss some periods. A course I took had an entire unit on this topic. I personally don't believe it's a medical issue. It's something that is safe to do. There are no complications that can happen, other than some spotting and maybe cramping. This is standard stuff that many women do. And while I am a mod, I am also a member of this community. I am allowed to state my own personal opinions. Only when I "green" myself am I acting as a mod. If you see things differently, then that is your issue, but when I accepted the modship, that was the stipulation I gave the community when they were asking for me to do it.

This advice is not suitable for everyone. This is a medical issue and you did advise someone on taking their medication in a manner that was not prescribed. Advice is fine but you should be a little more responsible-why not advise her to speak to her prescribing doctor? What exactly is the problem with that?

Are you a medical practitioner or pharmacist..? More importantly are you this girls medical practitioner?

You haven't addressed a single thing I said. You clearly have your own beliefs on this topic and aren't looking to see things from another perspective. I understand where you're coming from, but you need to realize not everyone has access to free health care. Would you really go in and pay to see a doctor to ask this simple question? Again, this is standard practice. You don't have to be a medical professional to know it. Taking a course on contraception and specifically learning about this from an RN is valid information.

I did address your points. It does not cost a cent to talk with your pharmacist. Where did OP say she could not access a Doctor? Why assume she does not have access to proper medical advice. I don't have my own beliefs as you put it, I'm just a responsible health practitioner.

What "course" did you do? If you are referring to OP stating that she asked her student nurse friend for advice (and told her she "should be fine"), that is hardly appropriate.

As you said, you stated your personal opinion. It would be standard practice to discuss this with your treating doctor.

My reference to you being a moderator was to imply that you should know better.

I am in grad school, studying human sexuality. I took a course specifically on contraceptives. This was thoroughly covered in it. The field of sexual health is rapidly changing with a lot of old views and ideas quickly becoming inaccurate and outdated. This is a practice that is known to be safe. I really don't understand what you think will be accomplished from her asking a doctor/pharmacist about this. Do you really think there's even a chance that they will tell her not to do it, let alone that being a valid response? I really don't see why you believe that this is an issue that requires anything beyond her trying it out.

Well then, you must know it all.
Yeah, there is a chance that it is not appropriate for OP. As you have no knowledge of OP medical history you cannot make blanket statements.
If you seriously want to argue that OP should not discuss this with her prescribing doctor or pharmacist, go for it.
What exactly will you be when you finish your course on "human sexuality"? Will you have prescribing rights or be in a position to offer actual medical advice (as you are doing now) or will it be just your opinion?

Oh, by the way, I practice under the banner of child and family health.